Author Marjorie M. Liu Release Party and Contest

The contest portion of the Marjorie M. Liu event is now closed. Winners will be chosen at a later date and contacted via email.

It’s so hard to believe that In the Dark of Dreams is finally being released! When I first started dreaming up this story, I couldn’t shake the image in my head of a girl and boy meeting on a beach. Except the girl was human, and the boy was…not. A mer-boy, a child of the sea.
From there, the rest of the novel unfolded. Separated for many years, the girl and boy grow up living vastly different lives — but linked, always, through their dreams. Dreams that help them endure hardship and tragedy, until finally they find one another again.

In the Dark of Dreams is part fairy-tale, part thriller, and all romance. I hope you enjoy it, and I appreciate you stopping by to celebrate its release.

Questions for the readers:
What mythical creature would you most like to meet, and why?
If you could breathe underwater, what would you do with that gift?
What’s the strangest dream you’ve ever had?

1. LEAVE YOUR FIRST NAME AND THE INITIAL OF YOUR LAST NAME AND YOUR COUNTRY in your comment/post so we can give you the proper credit for your entries. Mandatory, if you don’t leave this, your entries will NOT count. It is NOT mandatory to make a purchase to be entered into the contest.

2. Answer her questions and ask some questions please make sure they aren’t duplicates. Good for 5 + points per question. (Max 4 good towards 20 points)

Good for 150 + points per book you purchase by using the links above. Email your receipt to the prize Goddess here bittenbybooks.contests @ gmail.com (no spaces). Not valid on past purchases.

OR you can use the Barnes & Noble link HERE to make your purchase of ANY kind of merchandise during the contest. You can also use the Amazon link HERE to shop as well. Good for 100 + entries to the contest for EACH item you purchase. Not valid on past purchases.

4. Do Something to HELP OUT Marjorie !

Make an actual blog POST on your BLOG and invite your readers to this event. Be sure to use this live link to link back to this event:
http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=33611 and this cover of the book. Come back and tell us where you shared. This REALLY Helps the author spread the word about their new book, so give a hand and help them out by talking about it on your blog!!! + 125 points

RULES AND LEGAL DISCLAIMERS
The contest ends on 11/30/10 at 11:59 pm Central and the winner will be contacted via email. You will receive your prize directly from the author. PLEASE LEAVE YOUR FIRST AND THE INITIAL OF YOUR LAST NAME AND COUNTRY as well as a valid email where we can contact you. REMEMBER the more things you do, the more entries, the greater the chances of winning. PLEASE ALLOW THIRTY DAYS to receive your prize BEFORE EMAILING US.

1. Please note, the prize stated IS the prize you will receive, there will be absolutely no substitutions or changes the prize is non-transferable. If you don’t want the prize being offered, please don’t enter the contest. If you ever win an electronic copy of a book, please note that it is ILLEGAL to forward, give away or copy it in anyway once you receive it. Doing so violates copyright. If we find out that it has been done, you will no longer be eligible to win any of our contests.
2. You have FIVE days from the day the we contact you to claim your prize by sending your name/mailing address to me. Failure to contact me will forfeit your prize. BBB can at that time, choose either to re-award the prize to another entrant or not.
3. The prize stated IS the prize you will receive, there will be no substitutions, trades or changes. No exceptions. Please do not ask. If for some reason you do not wish to claim your prize, please let me know as soon as possible. Bitten by Books has the option to re-award it or not.
4. Contest is open to readers in the USA except where noted above. The prizes are shipped directly from the publisher unless otherwise noted.
5. Bitten by Books is in NO way responsible for the prizes being offered in any of the contests. If for some reason a contributor does not honor their prize, there is nothing we can or will do about it. We are not worried that this will happen, but we want to be very clear that WE are not offering these prizes, the contributor is and it is their responsibility to fulfill their prize obligations.
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118 comments

Hi! I think I would most like to meet a fairy, or maybe a unicorn? Something more on the benign side so I wouldn’t get too freaked out! I think if I could breathe underwater I would work with the Coast Guard so that I could rescue people. And as for strange dreams, I don’t know I’ve ever not had a strange one. Maybe the dream that was all in a Safeway parking lot with a guy casting giant shadow puppets with a spotlight starring Betty White as my grandmother? I also have a lot of dreams with Jim, Pam, and Kevin from The Office.
What’s your favorite cover of your own books? Do you have cover love/envy for another author(s)? +20

Hi Bethany! I’ve been really lucky to receive some beautiful covers. I really love the one that Avon gave me for IN THE DARK OF DREAMS, but there’s another coming up for the reissue of SOUL SONG that is gorgeous.

I think, though, that the original TIGER EYE cover will always have a soft spot in my heart, as that was my first book.

What mythical creature would you most like to meet, and why? As a child I’ve always loved unicorns and horses, but as an adult I’d love to meet a Griffon. There is something magical and regal about them and they represent two worlds – air and earth. I think it’d be fun to go for a ride.

If you could breathe underwater, what would you do with that gift? I would probably lose some of my fear for swimming in the ocean and do a lot more water sports. I currently surf and stand up paddle and want to learn to dive, it’s a dream of mine to dive at night with the manta rays in Hawaii.

I’d love to visit Ireland and Iceland, and the Orkney Islands. I’ve only been across the Atlantic once, and that was to Glasgow. I had a great time, but didn’t get to see as much as I would have liked.

Iceland sounds exciting! If it weren’t for the cold. By the way, I started blogging about your book and I realized your books were the catalyst for me starting to read again (I had gotten so busy after undergrad with work and life I forgot how much I loved to read).

Hi Rashda! My editing process is pretty straightforward. I tend to edit as I go, anyway, but then after I’m done, I read the manuscript, again and again…sometimes I type the whole thing back in, just to get that hands on feel of the story…or I’ll print it out and take a red pen to it.

I’ve found that I dream in both color and B+W. I guess it depends on the “mood” my mind is trying to set (and perhaps because I’m a big fan of old B+W movies) but my eeriest dreams are always in stark B+W tones and not in color.

I also have lucid dreams quite often. But apparently, I’m odd. Who knew?

Free time? I love traveling, I love gardening, and cooking. I’d like to take some dance classes again. It’s strange, because my free time always seems to become story time, to some degree. Words are always on my mind!

Q. What mythical creature would you most like to meet, and why?
A. I would love to meet/see a pheonix, it’s beautiful and awe inspiring and makes you think about new starting points in life.

Q. If you could breathe underwater, what would you do with that gift?
A. If I could breathe underwater I would find all the ancient ruins and explore them to better understand the people who came before.

Hi Marjorie,
Congratulations on another new book! I haven’t begun to read this series yet but have read all the Hunter Kiss stories, I love them! I will add this series to my TBR list immediately.
Q. What mythical creature would you most like to meet, and why?
I have always been more partial to shifters as opposed to vampires. Don’t like the whole blood sucking thing and the fey are so tricky that I’d probably get tricked into some bargain that I didn’t want so I’ll stick with shifters. I think I like all kinds of shifters. I don’t think I could narrow it down but I like that some authors write about characters that can shift into different animals depending on the situation required like in Faith Hunter’s Jane Yellowrock series. So I guess I’d like to meet a shifter that could choose which animal he or she wanted to shift into. I liked that Nicole Peeler used a selkie in her book. I’m looking forward to reading about your mer-boy.

Q. If you could breathe underwater, what would you do with that gift?
Well, I’m a SCUBA diver now so I guess I can already breathe underwater but it’d be very nice to not have to use equipment and not have limits on how long you could stay down. I think I’d like to use my gift to help people find things they’ve lost or to rescue people if need be. I live near a lake and people lose important things overboard all the time.

Hi Marjorie,
Congratulation on your new book. I just ordered a copy.
On behalf of the folks at Powerhouse Comics, I just want to let you know, your name came up the other day when a customer mention how much he liked this Marjorie Liu who’s writing X-23, and guess what? People here remember that smart, cute, and a little shy (the kink of shy that should _not_ be confused with lack of confidence) college student who was a big X-Men fan. It’s exciting to see the career you’ve built since then.

Bob!!! I hope you’re doing well! I’m so glad to hear from you. I really loved your store, and you were always so kind to me. I have to admit, I would never have imagined then that I’d be writing comics.

What mythical creature would you most like to meet, and why?
It’s difficult to narrow down between Dragons and Unicorns. I have always been a huge fan of both. I don’t know if I could narrow it down.
There’s just always been something about dragons. I’m not quite sure where that stemmed from.
Unicorns on the other hand; I think it all began the first time I saw The Last Unicorn. I seriously love that movie! Okay I have to admit, I even have a small unicorn collection as well as a few dragon paraphernalia.I swear it’s not creepily overwhelming though! I promise!

If you could breathe underwater, what would you do with that gift?
I’d probably end up being selfish with it. How cool would it be to go deep sea diving without using equipment. Although it’s not like I would ignore a person or animal that needed help.

What mythical creature would you most like to meet, and why? A shifter I think they would see the world from a different angle.
If you could breathe underwater, what would you do with that gift? Clean up the shoreline
What

Hi Marjorie
* I Would love to meat a vampire Because thay have lived so long and have Sean so much History While it was Happening you could ask them so many Questions. +5
* If I Could Breathe Underwater I would Use it to save Live People and animals. +5
* I spread the News but the Pic would not show up on my myspace or Facebook and Now I Don’t Know if Facebook even Counts as a blog That Way there is so meny !!! these Behind blog Makes me think it does not coutn so I Guess I only conunt the Myspace one here is the links to bout if both counthttp://www.myspace.com/sasluvbooks & facebook.com/sasluvbooks +125 ?125
* I RSVPed To be here today for Marjorie +25
* I Will be Attending Lisa Desrochers today +25
* I RSVPed for Christina Henry +25
* I RSVPed for Cynthia Eden +25
* I did the weekly Pools +5
* I Talledy My Points +1 =?366 or 241
Depending on if Facebook counts as a Blog
* From Stacey S USA
sasluvbooks(at)yahoo.com

What mythical creature would you most like to meet, and why?
I would love to see a dragon, but I think meeting one would be rather dangerous. Dragons are such mervellous creatures!*_*
If you could breathe underwater, what would you do with that gift?
Explore seas and oceans! I can be a very curious thing. >_<
What

1) I’d like to meet vampire, but only the nice, sexy kind that won’t kill me right off the bat, because it would be amazing to talk them.
2) If I could breathe underwater, I would explore the ocean floor and look for treasure.
3) I have strange dreams all the time. I think the one where I was married to my boss was pretty scary.

What mythical creature would you most like to meet, and why?
Elves – nearly as obsessed with elves as I am with dragons. Just the whimsy of an elf, their internal and external beauty resonates with me. Maybe I was an elf in a previous life. LOL. The majority of my role play characters (and story characters have some form of elven blood)
Dragons – maybe this is because I was born beneath the red dragon sign? Not only are they gorgeous but the strength in them.
Unicorn – The Last Unicorn. As a child that show was my favorite and well, what little girl does not wish to meet a unicorn. It would fulfill a childhood dream. (Yes I was obsessed with horses and unicorns. My dad had to draw me some)
Gryphon – Well as long as they are like the ones in Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar books. I love her gryphons.

If you could breathe underwater, what would you do with that gift?
Oooh really toughie question because I really do not like frolicking in water too much. Hubby associates it with “being afraid of water” which is so wrong. I just have no desire to “be” in water except for baths or showers. But then I guess I am an oddball, so that gift would be wasted on me.

Q. What mythical creature would you most like to meet, and why? A. The mythical creature I would want to meet is a a cross between a hryrda a mermaid and a phoneix because it would multipi heads it could swim for long distances and be on fire and come back from the dead. q. If you could breathe underwater, what would you do with that gift? I would try to set the world record for swimming and do the stuff namor the first mutant could do or aquaman. q. What

Because I travel so much to Asia, I do end up throwing much of that part of the world into my books. Culturally, though? I don’t think about it as Chinese culture and White culture. Everything is an integrated whole. And Jubilee will be showing up in the X-23 book at some point, so we’ll see then!

I don’t know if I could pick the strangest dream I’ve ever had because some have really been crazy.
If I could breath underwater, I would look for the lost city of Atlantis.
I would like to meet Loki. He’s mythical, right?

Hi Marjorie!!! Congrats on the release!!! What made you want to write about mer-people? They seem like kind of a forgotten or often left out mythology?

What mythical creature would you most like to meet, and why?
-I would love to meet a centaur. I just think it would be interesting to talk and find out what it would be like to be half horse/half person.

If you could breathe underwater, what would you do with that gift?
-I would so love to be able to do that. It is actually always on my list of superpowers if I could have one. I would definitely move to the beach so I could swim everyday. Maybe give back to the commumity as a lifeguard.

I wanted to write about mer-people because I think they’re fascinating! The sea is a whole other world, and when I was little, it always seemed to me that could be so much living down there that humans might never discover.

What mythical creature would you most like to meet, and why?
This is a tough question. I guess I would say that I would like to meet a fairy because I think they would be interesting to meet.

If you could breathe underwater, what would you do with that gift?
I would like to put my gift to good use and help people. Maybe search and rescue.

Who are your favorite authors and why? I have read several of your books and stories but none in order. lol Is In The Dark of Dreams part of a series or stand alone? It sounds really interesting and wanted to know if I could skip to it without trouble.

2) (+20) – Hi, and Happy Holidays!
Q1) hmm… maybe a unicorn; although I really wouldn’t want to rid one, not particularly fond of horses… LOL
Q2) find a planet or moon with liquid water and go swimming to see what lives there.
Q3) Well, there was this one where the aliens were coming, family and me plus one was in my room quietly waiting, hoping that they would leave, but they came in and took me and the plus one away with them. Aforementioned plus one was Pierce Brosnan for some strange reason…
Q4) Going in a totally different direction, what is your favorite part of Christmas?

+5 What mythical creature would you most like to meet, and why?
-I would like to meet a dragon because in the Chinese zodiac that is my sign & I love the idea that there can be this awesome creature in existence.

+5 If you could breathe underwater, what would you do with that gift?
-Seeing that I don’t know how to swim I would just explore the great vast ocean.

I don’t have a mythical creature that I’d like to meet.
If I could breathe underwater I’d study sea creatures and report on better ways to improve water usage. And I’d show off my skills.
The dreams when I can identify places that I’ve been are strange. I just think that’s a bit odd.

Hi there! I would like to meet a dragon or gargoyle. I have both creatures tattooed on me, I love them. Hmm, if I could breath underwater I think I’d also do search and rescue of humans and animals, but I know I’d be drawn to search the ocean floor for booty! I have a lot of strange dreams, but the 2 that stick out the most is me falling down an escalator, I had that dream several times and everytime I rode one I clutched it desperately for a while, and the second was a vivid dream of a train wreck, it was so real to me I woke crying from the deaths and suffering. I searched for an actual wreck on the news and papers, I thought for sure I had “seen” something that actually happened. Have any of your dreams come true? Are your books available in audio at all? DO you listen to audio at all? Thanks for being here, and this sounds good, I’ve put it in my wish list at amazon. Will def be checking it out soon.

My mom gave me a writing journal and I started writing a story about a cat. I was really little. I can’t remember the first book that made me want to be an author (though that’s a great question). I just always liked to tell stories.

Write myself into a story? I’d want there to be magic, adventure, romance!

I would LOVE to meet a dragon Shapeshifter because I absolutely love animals and dragons are just so fascinating. Plus, I like the idea of shapeshifting and becoming a creature that flys and spews fire would just be fantastic!

If you could breathe underwater, what would you do with that gift?

I would definitely explore all the oceans and check out any boat wreckages that we are unable to do with are current technology.

Answers to Marjorie’s questions: 1. What mythical creature would you most like to meet, and why? I would love to meet a unicorn- it’s such a mystical creature that would be amazing to see/ride.
2. If you could breathe underwater, what would you do with that gift? I would definitely go out for the olympics, lol. 3. What

1. USA
2. What mythical creature would you most like to meet, and why? I think i would love to meet a mermaid. I think that would be pretty neat. Someone who can live under the water.
3. If you could breathe underwater, what would you do with that gift? I would save people from drowning.
4. What

The mythical creature I’d most like to meet may be a witch/wizard. Because I’d like to see with my own eyes what amazing things they can do (like Samantha on Bewitched).

If I could breathe underwater, I’d help to save people, swim & commune w/animals in captivity & in the ocean & go treasure hunting.

The strangest dream I’ve ever had – That’s a tough one – I have strange dreams all the time, but I don’t really remember most of them. I do remember having some dreams where it seems like I’m floating/flying, which was strange, but cool.

What mythical creature would you most like to meet, and why?
-A dragon. But a nice one that wont kill on sight. It would be awesome to see one in real life.
If you could breathe underwater, what would you do with that gift?
-See all the cool things under the water in the ocean we dont get to experience normally.
What

1. Shifters have intrigued me. It would be interesting to meet one and discuss how it feels to shift and how they feel about the ability.

2. If I could breath under water I would become an environmental scientist dedicated to investigating the effects mankind is having on the environment. I would work to establish a worldwide agency to police the oceans looking for problems and with the authority to have problems corrected. It would make the job easier if there were others who also had the same ability.

3. Strangest dream? That is hard. There is one that I remember, even after many. many years. I don’t remember exactly what the first part of the dream was, but there was a face a bit like an evil clown in a black void. It was the embodiment of evil. I felt myself falling and falling. I woke with a start, certain that if I had kept falling, I would have died. I had trouble sleeping for nights after that. I was in high school when this happened.

What mythical creature would you most like to meet, and why?
This is a hard one!! I guess if it came right down to it I would have to say I would love to meet a Fae. I have always believed that there was something in the world that is………just more.

If you could breathe underwater, what would you do with that gift?
I would love to swim in the ocean and see all the wildlife and to go to far places.

I would love to meet a Werewolf, I have an affinity for wolves so I’d ask them what it was like to run as one.
I love to swim and I’d love to explore the oceans without having to worry about running out of oxygen.
I used to be an Over the Road Truck Driver and I would deliver a load from L.A. to Hawaii, driving there.
I love the whole series and can’t wait to read the latest book.
Answered 3 questions 15
Poll 5
RSVP for Cynthia Eden 25
46 total
Jill M USA

2.1. I’d like to meet a dragon because dragons just seem to me to be representative of mythological creatures.
2.2. I wouldn’t do anything because I don’t like the water.
2.3. I can’t really remember any of my dreams. I’m sure that some of them have been strange, but all I can ever remember is the feeling of strangeness.
2.4. How did you come up with the idea for this book?

Thanks for joining us here at Bitten by Books and telling us about “In the Dark of Dreams”.

What mythical creature would you most like to meet, and why?
Well, I can’t not pick vampire as I am nigh compelled to pick up any book or film with vampires in them, but whether I’d really want one outside of the pages of a novel…I’m not so sure. Still, a well-fed vampire would at least make for a fascinating evening… (+5)

If you could breathe underwater, what would you do with that gift?
I love being underwater, holding my breath as long as I could sitting at the bottom of the pool was probably one of my favourite outdoor activities as a kid. It may not be much of a use of the gift, but chilling at the bottom of the pool for a few hours of blissful tranquility would do me just fine… (+5)

Victoria CK, USA
1. What mythical creature would you most like to meet, and why?
Do nice dragons count. I mean if we are going with mythical anyway, can we make them into our own kind. While everyone is crazy about vamps & werewolfs, I would love to be flying on the non-flaming dragon. And I grew up with my mom love’s of them, so that would add to meeting them.
2. If you could breathe underwater, what would you do with that gift?
Now that is something I have never thought about… And I live in Oklahoma, not a lot of call for that skill around my home. But I love dolphins! Would I end up moving so I could help the sea animals us humans seem determinded to destroy? (Now my brain hurts with that option. How would I conveince hubby to go along with that?!!) This sounds like something I would do, yes.
3. What

Honestly, I really don’t have any favorites. Each book I’m working on is my favorite at the time, along with the characters. Though, I must admit to having a special soft spot for Maxine Kiss, Grant, and the Boys of the Hunter Kiss series. Also, Hari of Tiger Eye, Koni, Eddie, etc.

1) I’d like to meet a fairy or an elf. Also, shifters are interesting.

2) Go out swimming more often!:) Well, I’d really like to go to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, it would be great to explore it without any masks and goggles.

3) All my dreams can be called strange, but there was one a long time ago when I dreamed I could fly, like Superman, and it was a great feeling, like swimming in the air. I wish I dreamed of flying again, but I haven’t since then.

If you could have one magical object what would you want and why?
Thanks!

Oooh, sounds awesome! I love both the mer-angle and the use of dreams — sounds right up my romance alley.

Did you use any real-world folk stories to influence your mer-culture?

1) What mythical creature would you most like to meet, and why?
Call me a girlie girl, but I’d love to see a unicorn — probably just at a distance, because those horns are wicked sharp! (A unicorn like in Peter Beagle’s work, though, would be nice to have a conversation with, even despite the arrogance.)

(21 points)

Prize Goddess: I found the e-book at B&N. I’ll probably buy it later today. Any reason why it’s not eligible for purchase? I’d like to have you guys get the affiliate credit!

2) If you could breathe underwater, what would you do with that gift?
I would definitely spend some time exploring Long Island Sound, which is within a few miles of my house. I’d love to know the ins and outs of the shoreline below the surface!

I have loved reading all of your books and will be getting this one also.
Pegasus. I’ve always wanted to fly on a horse.
I’d go diving in the long caves that have not been explored yet.
Flying or killing bad guys. My dreams are very boring.
Where did you go to college?
Attended and Participated in Lisa Desrochers event
RSVP for and Attend Christina Henry

+5 I’d live to meet a really old vamp, one that had lived thousands of years. Can you imagine the wealth of information he would have.
+5 I’d use that power to visit as many ship wrecks as I could
+5 That my dad really hadn’t died. That he has simply disappeared to live a different life because he had amnesia.
+5 Any plans for a YA series of books?

Hi Marjorie, I am runing late for this one and boy do I have some catching up to do. I have all of the Hunter Kiss books but have not yet read these, should keep me occupied for a bit.

Well I know the two I would not like or get to meet, a unicorn(missed the criteria by a couple decades). Not a big loss for me I can still ride horses and the one unicorn I did see was the B&B mutated goat. I also never ever want to meet the Golden Goose. Geese are mean evil minions of someone or something the gold is just a trap. I would like to meet a were preferably a furry type.

Oh here we go into purely selfish territory. I have a love of pearls. I would search for them all kinds from all places. On the other side of the coin if I could I would give the ability to my sister. She is a marine biologist and loves all things underwater.

The strangest dream I have ever had went on for years in two versions. In each one there is a sarcaphgus and a person is placed inside. once inside a lever is pulled and many blade slice and dice the person inside. Then there is a celebration of some kind and the person is the main course. The difference in versions was in one it was my best frind at the time and in the other it was a girl I went to school with but did not know very well at all.